SELF-CLEANING HOMOGENEOUS MIXER-BLEEDER SYSTEM COMPOSED OF A SET OF SCREENS AND A BLEED MANIFOLD

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1), in particular for the production of must by pellicular maceration, of the type incorporated in a wine maceration tank (0) and having mainly: a. a bleed system (10) containing a bleed manifold (107) and a set of perforated side bleed screens (102); b. an inerting valve (11); c. a CO.sub.2 system (12).

Claims

1. A self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold for the production of must by pellicular maceration incorporated in a wine maceration tank, comprising: a bleed system, which performs a gentle homogeneous mixing by means of injecting CO.sub.2 through said system, throughout the entire inner volume of the must extractor maceration tank, increasing contact between the solid and liquid elements of the dense must and, therefore, contributing to reducing maceration time and to increasing the quality according to the Total Polyphenol Index, wherein the bleed system comprises: a bleed manifold, composed of a pipe outside the tank which joins each set of perforated side bleed screens by means of a screen connection element, and the function of which, to perform the step of bleeding the tank, is to concentrate the entire output of must in a manually or automatically operated bleed valve; a CO.sub.2 inlet valve whereby CO.sub.2 is supplied for the purpose of homogenizing the pellicular maceration, favoring the exchange of compounds between solid and liquid parts, as well as to perform a countercurrent cleaning of the perforated bleed elements; it is therefore possible in one and the same manifold to both extract liquid must and introduce inert CO.sub.2 gas into the tank; a set of perforated side bleed screens, the geometry of which follows the inner development of the cone and of the cylindrical part of the collar, and which set composed of: a perforated left side bleed screen a perforated right side bleed screen, and a perforated central side bleed screen, the latter screen having a hole in which a perforated bleed tube is fixed by means of a perforated bleed elbow, and which tube is arranged vertically along the inner height of the tank, the described set providing an optimized bleed surface, facilitating the separation of the solid part of the must both at the bottom and along the entire height of the tank; furthermore, the perforated bleed tubes are finished at the upper end thereof with respective non-perforated covers; an inerting valve which, placed in the upper part of the tank, in the dome element, allows, by means of CO.sub.2 injected into the tank, the action of pressurizing the tank for the purpose of removing O.sub.2 and, therefore, reducing must oxidation, as well as favoring the step of bleeding when pressurization occurs in the range of 30 to 120 mbar; and a CO.sub.2 system, which is supplied with CO.sub.2 by means of a suction pipe in order to be stored, once pressurized and filtered, in an accumulator tank for the purpose of providing CO.sub.2 to the must extractor maceration tank through a delivery pipe.

2. The self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold according to claim 1, wherein the supply of CO.sub.2 to the must extractor maceration tank is performed by the cone and by the cone disc by means of any diffuser known in the state of the art.

3. The self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold according to claim 1, wherein the CO.sub.2 system is supplied with CO.sub.2 coming from any existing wine fermentation tank in a wine-making facility in which CO.sub.2 is produced when fermentation occurs.

4. The self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold according to claim 1, wherein the CO.sub.2 system is supplied with CO.sub.2 from any source known in the state of the art.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0032] To complement the description and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features thereof, a set of illustrative and non-limiting figures, as well as a glossary with the references used in the figures along with a description of each reference, are attached as an integral part of said description.

Glossary of references and description thereof

[0033] (0) Any prior art wine maceration tank; [0034] (01) Top; upper part of the shell of the tank; [0035] (02) Collar; cylindrical part of the shell of the tank formed by vertical cylinders; [0036] (03) Cone; lower part of the shell of the tank or bottom having a cone shape to facilitate the exit of the dried pulp from the tank once it has been bled; [0037] (04) Cone disc; lower part of the shell of the tank in the flat part where the elements which facilitate the emptying of the tank (blade-geared motor) are anchored; [0038] (05) Jacket; metallic shell outside the collar which creates a chamber between the jacket and the collar inside of which forced water circulates to control the temperature of the tank; [0039] (06) Pumping over and cleaning tube; tube which ends in the upper part of the tank in the dome which is used for tank cleaning and disinfection operations by means of recirculation in a closed circuit by connecting a pump from the total outlet; [0040] (07) Door; opening through which a mechanism moves the door and through which the bled pulp tank is emptied; [0041] (08) Blade-geared motor; set of mechanical elements which, as a result of the internal blade of the tank and the movement provided thereto by the geared motor, facilitates the operation of emptying the dry pulp; [0042] (09) Total outlet; valve placed flush with the bottom in the cone disc so as to enable the complete emptying of liquid from the tank; [0043] (010) Dome; last upper part of the tank having a cylindrical geometry containing the upper door by means of latches; [0044] (011) Vent valve; valve placed in the upper part of the tank in the dome element which, during filling or emptying operations of the liquid in the storage tank, prevents pressurizing/depressurizing action by means of air inlet or outlet; [0045] (012) Level strip; element for reading the tank filling level; [0046] (1) Self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold, object of the invention; [0047] (10) Bleed system; [0048] (101) Bleed valve; external connection valve of the bleed manifold (107) through which must is extracted; [0049] (102) Perforated side bleed screen; set of screens which, by making the inner cone development and the cylindrical part of the collar, facilitate the separation of the solid part of the must; [0050] (102i) Perforated left side bleed screen; [0051] (102c) Perforated central side bleed screen; [0052] (102d) Perforated right side bleed screen; [0053] (103) Perforated bleed elbow; element for joining the perforated side bleed screen (102) and the perforated bleed tube (104) which provides the bleed surface; [0054] (104) Perforated bleed tube; element placed in the innermost part of the tank which facilitates the separation of the solid part of the must in the inner part of the tank obtaining a larger bleed surface and, hence, a higher yield; [0055] (105) Clamp; supports fixing the perforated bleed tube (104) to the tank (1); [0056] (106) Cover; non-perforated flat element located in the upper part of the perforated bleed tube (104) which prevents the possible entry of solid particles into the bleed system; [0057] (107) Bleed manifold; pipe outside the tank which joins all the bleed assemblies to concentrate the entire output of must in the bleed valve (101); [0058] (108) CO.sub.2 inlet valve; connection valve of the bleed manifold (107) through which CO.sub.2 is provided; [0059] (109) Screen connection element; element used for communicating the bleed manifold [0060] (107) with each of the perforated side bleed screens (102); [0061] (11) Inerting valve; valve placed in the upper part of the tank in the dome element (010) which allows the action of pressurizing the tank (1). [0062] (12) CO.sub.2 system; [0063] (120) Wine fermentation tank; any prior art tank existing in the wine-making facility in which CO.sub.2 is produced when fermentation occurs; [0064] (121) Delivery; delivery pipe through which CO.sub.2 is conducted under pressure; [0065] (122) Suction; suction pipe through which CO.sub.2 is captured; [0066] (123) Safety valve; safety valve in the CO.sub.2 accumulator tank which prevents the possible overpressure of the accumulator tank design pressure by discharging CO.sub.2; [0067] (124) Manual shut-off valve; ball valve by means of which the pipe is shut off for maintenance or cleaning operations; [0068] (125) Pressure gauge; analog clock placed in the accumulator tank (135) which indicates the pressure of the CO.sub.2 content; [0069] (126) Suction filter; suction filter in the pipe line before the compressors to remove particulate matter; [0070] (127) Prefiltration; prefilter in the delivery line before the dryer to remove coarse particulate matter and moisture after compression of the captured CO.sub.2; [0071] (128) Filtration; microbial filtration of fine particulate matter to preserve aseptic CO.sub.2; [0072] (129) Seat valve; 2-way globe valve with 2 positions, pneumatically or electrically operated and controlled within the control of the system. Its function is to allow capturing or injecting CO.sub.2; [0073] (130) Trap filter; element placed in CO.sub.2 suction which, as a result of the cyclone effect, precipitates enough particulate matter and moisture from CO.sub.2; [0074] (131) Pressure transducer: sensor placed in the pressurized tank which constantly measures the CO.sub.2 storage pressure and sends this data to the control of the system; [0075] (132) Pressure regulator: element which reduces the pressure of the CO.sub.2 stored in the accumulator and adapts it to the CO.sub.2 injection pressure; [0076] (133) Compressor; equipment for pressurizing CO.sub.2; [0077] (134) Dryer; equipment for drying CO.sub.2; [0078] (135) Accumulator tank; tank for storing CO.sub.2.

[0079] FIG. 01—shows an elevational view of any prior art wine maceration tank (0);

[0080] FIG. 02—shows a 3D infographic of a must extractor maceration tank (1), object of the invention;

[0081] FIG. 03—shows an elevational view of a self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1), object of the invention, in which the bleed system (10) and the inerting valve (11) can be observed;

[0082] FIG. 04—shows a profile view of a self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1), in which the bleed system (10) and the inerting valve (11) can be observed;

[0083] FIG. 05—shows a plan view of a self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1), in which the bleed system (10) and the inerting valve (11) can be observed;

[0084] FIG. 06—shows an elevational view of a self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1) in which, in addition to the bleed system (10) and the inerting valve (11), the CO.sub.2 system (12) can be observed.

[0085] FIG. 07—shows a perspective view of the perforated elements of the bleed system (10).

[0086] FIG. 08—FIG. 08A shows an assembly view of the three different types, according to their overall position, of perforated side bleed screens (102i, 102c, 102d); FIG. 08B shows the final set of a perforated side bleed screen (102).

[0087] FIG. 09—shows a bleed manifold (107) in which a bleed valve (101), a CO.sub.2 inlet valve (108), and several screen connection elements (109) have been arranged.

[0088] FIG. 10—FIG. 10A shows a schematic view of the entry of CO.sub.2 to simultaneously perform countercurrent cleaning of the bleed system (10) and gentle, homogeneous mixing of the solid and liquid particles; FIG. 10B shows the must bleeding operation.

[0089] FIG. 11—shows a process diagram of a CO.sub.2 system (12).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0090] A preferred embodiment of the invention out of the different possible alternatives is described in detail by means of listing the components thereof, as well as their functional relationship based on references to the figures, which have been included, by way of non-limiting illustration, according to the principles of the claims. Reference to the figures is made as needed to better understand what is shown therein.

[0091] Once the bunch is destemmed, the dense must (liquid plus solid elements) coming from the white grape, although it can also be rosé or even red, is sent to the must extractor maceration tank (0) equipped with a self-cleaning homogeneous mixer-bleeder system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1), preferably made of food grade stainless steel certified with European Conformity (CE) to proceed with a pellicular fermentation, maintaining a cold temperature to prevent fermentation from starting. The plant or hard elements of the grape such as seeds, stems or stalks, if left for a long time, would contaminate the must with undesirable odors and flavors, in addition to increasing its acid content. On the other hand, if left for a short time, there will not be an optimal extraction of phenolic compounds that will pass into the liquid must and consequently into the wine.

[0092] Therefore, the invention aims to perform gentle, homogeneous mixing by means of injecting CO.sub.2 through the bleed system (10), throughout the entire inner volume of the must extractor maceration tank (0), to increase contact between the solid and liquid elements of the dense must required in pellicular maceration, reducing the maceration time by 20-30% and increasing quality by 5-10% according to the Total Polyphenol Index (TPI).

[0093] When the must has acquired the desired color or other measurable indices, after a certain amount of time ranging from a few hours up to one or several days, depending on the type and conditions of the grape, final bleeding is performed through the same bleed system (10) mentioned in the preceding paragraph, separating the solid part, which remains in the must extractor maceration tank (0), of the liquid must.

[0094] A bleed system composed of a set of screens and a bleed manifold (1), comprising: [0095] a. a bleed system (10), (FIG. 01), containing: [0096] a bleed manifold (107), (FIG. 03-05, FIG. 09), composed of a pipe outside the tank (0) which joins each set of perforated side bleed screens (102) by means of a screen connection element (109), and the function of which, to perform the step of bleeding the tank (0), is to concentrate the entire output of must in a manually or automatically operated bleed valve (101); it further has a CO.sub.2 inlet valve (108) whereby CO.sub.2 is supplied for the purpose of homogenizing the pellicular maceration, favoring the exchange of compounds between solid and liquid parts, as well as to perform a countercurrent cleaning of the perforated bleed elements (102, 103, 104); i.e., the bleed manifold (107) is an element involving inventive step as it allows both the extraction of the liquid must and the introduction of the inert CO.sub.2 gas into the tank (0) in one and the same manifold. [0097] a set of perforated side bleed screens (102), (FIG. 03-05, FIG. 07-08), the geometry of which follows the inner development of the cone (03) and of the cylindrical part of the collar (02), and which set is composed of: a perforated left side bleed screen (102i), a perforated right side bleed screen (102d), and a perforated central side bleed screen (102c), the latter screen having a hole in which a perforated bleed tube (104) is fixed by means of a perforated bleed elbow (103), and which tube (104) is arranged vertically along the inner height of the tank (0), the described set providing an optimized bleed surface facilitating the separation of the solid part of the must both at the bottom and along the entire height of the tank (0); furthermore, the perforated bleed tubes (104) are finished at the upper end thereof with respective non-perforated covers (106); it is substantially important for the covers not to be perforated, since it has been found in real conditions that if they are perforated, particles will enter and first be deposited on the covers and cause the system to become clogged; this anomaly does not occur in the rest of the perforated elements because it has been provided that the surface does not present any horizontal planes, which is an inventive element that provides substantial optimization so that gravity prevents solid particles from accumulating and, therefore, from entering the bleed system.

[0098] The set of perforated side bleed screens (102), as can be seen in FIG. 08A, is composed of, as indicated above, of a perforated left side bleed screen (102i), a perforated right side bleed screen (102d), and a perforated central side bleed screen (102c), to form a set of three elements, see FIG. 08B. If there are to be, e.g., five elements, for the purpose of increasing the bleed surface, adding two perforated central side bleed screens (102c) to the previous set will suffice, but such screens will be missing a hole since preferably, regardless of the number of elements, there will only be one perforated bleed tube (104) in each set.

[0099] Constructively speaking, each screen will be obtained by bending based on the corresponding template. As can be seen in said figure, the central screen (102c) has grooves in both longitudinal flaps and the end screens (102i, 102d) only have grooves in the flaps in contact with the central screen, so that the present set of screens in contact with the tank has a closed contour so that solid elements do not get in, but within that closed contour there are gaps (hence the grooves) for the free circulation of liquid.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment, the elements of the bleed system (10) will be built from food grade stainless steel certified with European Conformity (CE), and the perforated surface will be made with staggered grooves, e.g., 20×3 mm, see FIG. 07, for the purpose of increasing the liquid passage surface, but preventing solid elements (seeds, skins, etc.) from getting in. Preferably, the upper part of the perforated bleed tubes (104) will be finished with a blind cover.

[0101] FIG. 10A shows a schematic view of the must extractor maceration tank (1) in which a CO.sub.2 flow is being provided through the CO.sub.2 inlet valve (108), which is the connection valve of the bleed manifold (107), for the purpose of simultaneously performing countercurrent cleaning of the bleed system (10) and gentle, homogeneous mixing of the solid and liquid particles of the dense must. FIG. 10B shows the must bleeding operation, which consists of opening the bleed valve (101), which is the external connection valve of the bleed manifold (107) through which liquid must is extracted.

[0102] The operations of CO.sub.2 injection and liquid must extraction use the same bleed manifold (107), so these operations must not be performed simultaneously; to that end, the CO.sub.2 inlet valve (108) and the bleed valve (101) are valves which can operate both manually and automatically, controlled within the control of the system with any programmable logic controller (PLC) of the state of the art.

[0103] In another preferred embodiment, a solenoid valve controlled with the mentioned (PLC) is placed on each screen connection element (109), which is the element used for communicating the bleed manifold (107) with each of the perforated side bleed screens (102), for the purpose of being able to inject CO.sub.2 only through the perforated side bleed screen (102) having its corresponding solenoid valve activated, i.e., it allows injection through one, several, or all the perforated units. The injection can also be performed sequentially through each one of them. [0104] b. an inerting valve (11), (FIG. 03-05) which, placed in the upper part of the tank, in the dome element (010), allows, by means of CO.sub.2 injected into the tank (0), the action of pressurizing the tank (0) for the purpose of removing O.sub.2 and, therefore, reducing must oxidation, as well as favoring the step of bleeding when pressurization occurs in the range of 30 to 120 mbar, due to the characteristic overpressure of the inside with respect to the outside; this characteristic range extols a substantially inventive element, since it has been found in real operating conditions that values within said range substantially favor the bleeding step.

[0105] The inerting valve (11), in a preferred embodiment, will allow pressurization in a range of: min. 30 mbar and max. 120 mbar; this valve can be adjusted both manually and automatically, controlled within the control of the system with any programmable logical controller (PLC) of the state of the art. [0106] c. a CO.sub.2 system (12) (FIG. 06, FIG. 11), which is supplied with CO.sub.2 by means of a suction pipe (122) in order to be stored, once pressurized and filtered, in an accumulator tank (135) for the purpose of providing CO.sub.2 to the must extractor maceration tank (0) through a delivery pipe (121).

[0107] The CO.sub.2 system (12) furthermore contains: a safety valve (123), which prevents the possible overpressure of the accumulator tank design pressure by discharging CO.sub.2; a plurality of manual shut-off valves (124), a ball valve by means of which the pipe is shut off for maintenance or cleaning operations; a pressure gauge (125), an analog clock placed in the accumulator tank (135) which indicates the pressure of the CO.sub.2 content; a suction filter (126), suction filter in the pipe line before the compressors to remove particulate matter; a prefiltration element (127), prefilter in the delivery line before the dryer to remove coarse particulate matter and moisture after compression of the captured CO.sub.2; a filtration element (128), microbial filtration of fine particulate matter to preserve aseptic CO.sub.2; several seat valves (129), 2-way globe valve with 2 positions, pneumatically or electrically operated and controlled within the control of the system. Its function is to allow capturing or injecting CO.sub.2; a trap filter (130), element placed in CO.sub.2 suction which, as a result of the cyclone effect, precipitates enough particulate matter and moisture from CO.sub.2; a pressure transducer (131), sensor placed in the pressurized tank which constantly measures the CO.sub.2 storage pressure and sends this data to the control of the system; a pressure regulator (132), element which reduces the pressure of the CO.sub.2 stored in the accumulator and adapts it to the CO.sub.2 injection pressure; a compressor (133), equipment for pressurizing CO.sub.2; a dryer (134), equipment for drying CO.sub.2.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, the CO.sub.2 system (12) is supplied with CO.sub.2 coming from any existing wine fermentation tank (120) in a wine-making facility in which CO.sub.2 is produced when fermentation occurs

[0109] In another preferred embodiment, the CO.sub.2 system (12) is supplied with CO.sub.2 from any source known in the state of the art.

[0110] Lastly, in another preferred embodiment, CO.sub.2 is supplied to the must extractor maceration tank (0) by the cone (03) and by the cone disc (04) by means of any diffuser known in the state of the art.